HARVESTING THE REWARDS OF SELFLESSNESS

The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others  – ignoring God! –  harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8 MSG)

It is another Rogation Sunday! We give all glory to God for counting us worthy to be part of another historic and rewarding event of the Church. The word “rogation” is from the Latin rogare, “to ask.” It is simply the day when the Church has traditionally offered prayer for God’s blessings on the fruits of the earth and the labors of those who produce our food. In the agrarian culture of yester-years, it was common for the church to gather on the Rogation Days to ask God to bless the crops being sown. Time to ask God to send rain and to bless us with a good harvest later in the year. As you too have come today, God will send the rain of His blessings upon your work, business and the everything you lay your hands upon to do in Jesus name.

Selfishness destroys relationships. It is the number one cause of conflict, arguments, divorce, and even war. In James Chapter 4:1 it is written, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV) Every trouble starts because of our self-centeredness. This include trouble between us and fellow men and of course, loss of Favour with God.

It’s very easy for selfishness to creep into relationships. It is commendable that many put more energy into building relationships but this should not be at the detriment of maintaining them. If selfishness destroys relationships, then it is selflessness that makes them grow. What does selflessness mean? It means less of “me” and more of “you.” It means thinking of others before thinking of oneself and putting the other person’s needs before ours. (Philippians 2:4).

Our text today reveals the importance of selflessness. The principle of sowing and reaping rests on the pillar of selflessness. What we sow, dictates what we eventually reap. God rewards selflessness with very many things including eternal life. It is interesting to note that God has wired or designed the universe in such a way that the more unselfish we are, the more He blesses us. Why? Because he wants us to become like him. God is so unselfish that after creating the entire world, He didn’t withhold anything from man. He handed all to him. He also gave His only Begotten Son to us that we might end well.

Beloved, Everything we have in life is a gift from God, because He was unselfish with us.

We are most fulfilled in this life when we give ourselves away. Jesus said, “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35b TLB). Let us come out today and always to honour our Creator with a good fraction of what He has lavished on us. He does not owe anyone. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts it very clearly. “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews,  – 6:9-10,  – NKJV, ,

As you sow today, remember how God has dealt graciously with those who did it before you. Obey Him and sow generously. Greater testimonies more than you can ever imagine shall attend to you in Jesus name.